Monaghan fancied to see off Kerry

KERRY bid to end an 18-year wait for an All-Ireland final appearance when they face Monaghan in this afternoon’s TG4 Ladies SFC semi-final (Birr, 5pm).

William O’Sullivan’s side are bidding to go one step further than last year when they lost out to Tyrone after a last four replay. Reaching a first All-Ireland senior decider since 1993 would represent huge progression for O’Sullivan’s charges.

“It would be a massive step forward if we got to the final because none of our team has played in one. That’s an advantage that Monaghan have over us because they have that experience of being there before.

“If we are looking to progress, then we should be making an All-Ireland final. That would show that we are moving in the right direction. Getting back to the semi-final is great but getting to the final would be massive.”

With a fancied Monaghan team expected to emerge victorious this evening, and earn a final spot against Cork in the All-Ireland decider on September 25, the Kerry boss is still in an upbeat mood ahead of this crunch tie.

“We had good wins over Donegal (2-10 to 0-5) and Mayo (3-11 to 0-10) and there is still more to come from us. We have room to improve, and we will try to get that extra bit out of the girls today,” O’Sullivan said.

But the Killarney man acknowledges that Monaghan — the team he faced in his first game as Kerry ladies manager last year, and lost — will provide stern opposition.

“We have only seen them once this year and that’s when they dismantled Meath in the All-Ireland quarter-final. They were in an All-Ireland final in 2008 and there are a good few of those girls still with them. And any team left at this stage of the competition is obviously a good team.”